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Church responds to Haiti's call for help

The Rev. Joseph Livenson Lauvanus left Haiti Monday, Jan. 11. For planned travel to the United States, missing the earthquake that ravaged his country by one day.

In response to this disaster, the Rev. Stephen Winemiller, senior pastor of Faith Lutheran Church, in Sarasota, invites the entire community to a prayer service for Haiti at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24.

Lauvanus will be the guest preacher and the offerings collected will benefit the Haitian Earthquake Relief Fund of the Lutheran Church of Haiti.

“We invite all people, all churches and all clergy — the entire community — to come together in spirit and join us in prayer for the citizens of Haiti,” Winemiller said.

Two of the church’s congregation members, Dr. Steve Newman, of Sarasota Memorial Hospital, and Dr. Laura Morris, a pediatric neurologist in Sarasota, will travel to Haiti Feb. 4 to assist in response to the earthquake. The doctors are traveling as part of a larger medical mission organized by the Lazarus Project, a grassroots effort of individuals and congregations working in ministry for the people of Haiti — Faith Lutheran is one of 50 member congregations in the U.S. and Winemiller is on the board of directors for The Lazarus Project.

Faith Lutheran invites area choirs to convene at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 24, at the church, 7750 Beneva Road, to form a combined choir under the direction of music director Roger Roszell.